ER Editor: The series Bosi Briefs has been going a while and we recommend it. Here is the second weve published, which came out earlier this week (the first). Were providing notes up to 25 minutes.

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The long-awaited first Mount and Blade 2 DLC sails through choppy waters as players claim it's overpriced After a fairly substantial delay from June to November, the first Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord DLC, War Sails, has finally released. But the waters it permits players to wade through appear tepid, leading to a good chunk of fans of one of the best RPGs of the last few years feeling...

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in the United States military. Authorized by Congress in 1861, nearly 3,500 servicemen have earned the award since its inception. Although it was first intended for Naval recipients, the awards availability quickly expanded to deserving Army soldiers. After 150 years of existence, the Medal of Honor is a unique honor for its recipients. With such an extraordinary history, the story of Jacob Parrott sheds light into the deeds of valor deserving of the Medal of Honor.Who Is Jacob Parrott?Jacob Parott in uniform, 1860s. Source: Wikimedia CommonsPrivate Jacob Parrott, born on July 17th, 1843, enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War at just 19 years old. Not much is known about the young soldiers life prior to his climatic actions during the war. As a member of Company K, 33rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a predecessor of the Ohio National Guard, Parrott volunteered for a risky mission that would serve as a precedent for the awarding of the Medal of Honor in the decades to come. Designed to cripple the Confederacy when it was least expecting it, this raid is currently known as the Great Locomotive Chase and came at a time when the Union was desperate for a victory.A Rough StartVolunteer Union soldiers from Ohio, 1861-1865. Source: Library of CongressDuring the first year of the Civil War, the Union Army was at a disadvantage compared to the Confederates. Eleven southern states seceded from the Union, leading to an outbreak of armed conflict following decades of tensions over socio-economic differences, particularly the institution of slavery. During the early years of the Civil War, some foreign powers considered recognizing the independence of the Confederacy. The Confederate Army enjoyed initial success as it fought primarily from within their own territory, controlled most of the coastline to resist Union naval blockade, while Confederate President Jefferson Davis sought diplomatic support from Europe. President Lincoln had to act fast to rescue the Union, and the Union Army began considering ambitious plans behind enemy lines to seize the initiative.The PlanGeneral Mitchel on Horseback, 1861/62. Source: Library of CongressTo turn the tide of the war, a civilian spy and smuggler, James J. Andrews, recommended an audacious plan to Union Army leaders: if the Union could steal a high value train 200 miles behind enemy lines, the north could cut off communication and supply lines essential to Confederate military operations. The bold operation demanded individuals who were willing to risk their personal safety for the greater good. Parrott was among 25 soldiers who volunteered to execute the operation. Union General Ormsby Mitchel approved the plan in April 1862, informing Parrott and his peers of the dangers that lay ahead.Andrews plan required the selected volunteers to sneak into Georgia, a risky undertaking as the Confederates were used to executing captured spies. The raiders masqueraded as a small group of loyal southerners traveling from Kentucky to Atlanta to enlist in the Confederate Army, a difficult cover story considering there were plenty of enlistment offices between themselves and the destination. On April 7th, 1862, General Mitchel led Parrott and two dozen soldiers to a railway in Chattanooga. There, the group headed to Marietta, the final staging area before raiding the Confederate train at Big Shanty. In the Unions eyes, Big Shanty was an enticing target because the station did not have telegraph connections. This meant that if General Mitchels small force could hijack the train quickly, they could out-run the news before it reached the Confederate authorities. The plan, however, did not come to fruition as intended.The RaidIllustration of the Great Locomotive Raid in Deeds of Valor: How Americas Civil War Heroes Won the Congressional Medal of Honor, 1901. Source: Wikimedia CommonsOn the journey from Chattanooga to Marietta, two of General Mitchels men were enlisted on the spot by Confederates and two overslept the trains departure to Big Shanty. Already a small band, the raiding party now faced the task of overthrowing a well-armed depot with even fewer men after facing delays as rumors spread of General Mitchels movement south. Upon arrival at Big Shanty, the trains crew and passengers departed the locomotive, and the raiders got to work. In minutes, Parrott and his peers detached the engine, fuel car, and three boxcars, before barreling north as fast as possible.A Short JourneyConfederate fortifications in Atlanta, 1864. Source: Library of CongressThe Confederates chased the raiders for the next 87 miles, delayed by Union efforts to break sections of track and destroy telegraph wires along the way. Andrews raiders hastened their escape by releasing two box cars, blocking the track for Confederate chasers. Despite these actions, the raiders ran out of fuel and were forced to stop for wood and water near the Georgia-Tennessee border. The Confederate pursuers soon caught up with the hijackers, forcing Parrott and his fellow soldiers to disperse just a few miles south of Chattanooga. After just seven hours, the Great Locomotive Chase was over.Unfortunately for Parrott and the other raiders, the daring missions effects proved mostly futile. While they achieved some successes in stealing the train and damaging telegraph and supply lines, the Union volunteers failed to destroy any bridges, and their adversaries quickly repaired the damage to the railroad infrastructure. General Mitchell, who stayed at Big Shanty, delayed his follow-on movements to Huntsville, Alabama, longer than intended. This gave the Confederacy time to fully recover before the raid had any material impact.After the RaidThe largest Confederate prison camp in Andersonville, Georgia, 1862. Source: Library of CongressParrott and the remaining Union soldiers attempted to avoid Confederate capture after the chase was over. For most of the raiders, however, these efforts were unsuccessful. The missions mastermind, Andrews, was executed in Atlanta, Georgia, alongside eight other raiders. Parrotts fate, while troubling, was more fortunate as he was spared execution and instead forced to bear mistreatment in Confederate confinement. In Atlanta, ten raiders escaped Confederate imprisonment.Less than a year later, Parrott was released in a prisoner exchange in March 1863 and returned north. Despite the raids untimely failure, the bold actions of Andrews team spread quickly in the north, and Parrott and his peers were celebrated as courageous heroes. As a result, Parrott was bestowed the Medal of Honor in the weeks following his return, and five other raiders received the same accolade for their parts in the mission shortly thereafter.For decades after the Great Locomotive Chase, the train and mission represented unifying figures for both sides of the Civil War. The locomotive itself, named The General was displayed at a monument in Ohio dedicated to Andrews, Parrott, and their comrades in 1891. One year later, the car was delivered to Chattanooga where the raiders staged their assault. Now, it sits in the same location it was hijacked, available for public viewing inside the Southern Museum of Civil War Locomotive History in Kennesaw, Georgia.A Lasting LegacyPresident Lincoln at General Grants headquarters, 1865. Source: Library of CongressDespite the hijackings failures, the Great Locomotive Chase holds a respected place in military history today, largely in part for its role in bestowing the United States first Medal of Honor. In retrospect, the bold Union strategies in 1862 marked a significant turning point of the Civil War. Shortly after the Great Locomotive Chase, Union armies won the battles of Second Manassas, Antietam, and Fredericksburg, which inspired hopes in the north that the Union would eventually prevail and the country would be reunited. Union heroism during these battles built upon the sacrifices of Andrews raiders. Since 1887, several authors have published books on the raid, and a movie was produced in 1956 to highlight the daring missions importance.Before the end of the Civil War, Parrott was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. After the war was over, the inaugural Medal of Honor recipient returned to his humble carpentry roots in Ohio, where he married Sarah Lawrence in 1866. Parrott remained friends with a fellow Andrews raider, Wilson Brown, until his death in December 1908. Parrott is buried in Grove Cemetery in Kenton, Ohio, near a road named in his honor, Jacob Parrott Boulevard. While Parrott is not a well-known figure in American popular culture, his memory continues to be honored inside military and historical circles. For as long as the Medal of Honor exists, the role of Parrott and his fellow raiders in the Great Locomotive Chase will not be forgotten.The Medal of Honor TodayA Civil War Era Medal of Honor, 1864. Source: Library of CongressThe Medal of Honor has evolved from its original conception. Three variants of the award now exist: one for the Army, Navy and Marines, and Air Force and Space Force, respectively. As the nations first conflict in which the accolade was awarded, the Civil War represents nearly half of all Medals of Honor recipients, illustrating how the award is increasingly rare in modern warfare. In fact, of the two and a half million service members who served overseas in support of the Global War on Terrorism, only 16 have received the Medal of Honor. Today, living Medal of Honor recipients enjoy a special pension and retirement pay, free admission for their children into American service academies, and prioritized medical benefits. Certainly, the award represents significance greater than the actions of a single individual, as exemplified by the bravery of Jacob Parrott and each of Great Locomotive Chase raiders over 150 years ago.

Few weapons hold as much mystique as the katana, often said to have a spirit of its own for good or ill. It is depicted as a dueling and battlefield weapon to be wielded by those with unsurpassed might at arms. One of the most well-known tropes in fiction dealing with weapons is that of the so-called quick draw. Similar to how a gunslinger in a Western draws his gun and instantly fires accurately from the hip, a skilled samurai could have his sword drawn and cut through three enemies in an instant. Although exaggerated for storytelling purposes, there is a martial art devoted to cutting from the draw: iaijutsu, sometimes shortened to iai. This word means self-harmony. Another word used is battoujutsu, or the sword-drawing art.How Did Iaijutsu Come About?Musha Burui, Broken Sword, by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, 1886. Source: Ukiyo-e.orgPrior to the katana and wakizashi, a samurai in the late Kamakura or early Muromachi period would have worn the tanto for everyday carry, reserving the tachi for field engagements.After the Mongol invasions of 1274 and 1281, the Japanese realized that their existing weapons were not as effective against outside enemies as they had hoped: to wit, the tachi often wound up with a broken tip and it was too large to use in mass infantry formations. Therefore, the shorter katana was developed.The earliest recorded system of iaijutsu dates to sometime in the 15th century, when the turbulence of the Sengoku Period was in full swing but before the introduction of firearms. The katana, because of its subtle curvature and edge-up mounting, was well suited to self-defense applications on the street because it works with existing human biomechanics. The arm moves in an arc when drawing and cutting with the sword and the curve of the blade follows this arc.Fundamentals of IaijutsuSugatsune Drawing Sword, by Katakana Shunsho, 18th century. Source: Ukiyo-e.orgEach waza (/technique) consists of four parts. First is nukitsuke, the drawing of the sword. From a sheathed position, the samurai brings his sword out in a draw cut usually across the eyes or the throat. Sometimes they would cut from other angles. This was to warn the enemy off or dissuade them from fighting.Second is kirioroshi, the finishing cut. If, after nukitsuke, the enemy was still hostile, the more powerful two-handed cut would ensure a quicker death. To leave a maimed warrior to die a slow death was viewed as one of the most dishonorable acts possible. After confirming the kill (simulated in training by remaining ready) comes chiburi, the act of shaking the blood off the sword, and noto, which is sheathing the sword while maintaining readiness.Practical Applications in FencingDuel in the Snow, by Saito Takao, 1980. Source: Ukiyo-e.orgThe common trope of a swordsman sheathing his sword mid-fight is the equivalent of a boxer dropping his guard: it is simply excess motion. Iaijutsu is not a fighting style. It is meant to complement existing kenjutsu. Although ideally, an encounter would play out as described above, reality often tells a different story. As a way to deploy a weapon instantly, iaijutsu played a lifesaving role: it enabled a samurai to transition from a completely relaxed state to full combat readiness in less than a second. After the sword was out, standard kenjutsu tactics would be the go-to.Each iaijutsu waza addresses a given situation a swordsman might encounter. This is referred to as bunkai (practical application). Some examples include facing a sudden attack from any direction while in seiza, dealing with multiple enemies, or fighting from inside a low doorway or in a narrow alleyway. The samurai knew that violence does not occur in a vacuum: numerous environmental and social constraints could be in place that would require a different approach to fighting. For example, the waza Kabezoe from Eishin-ryu assumes that the swordsman is walking through an extremely narrow alleyway and thus dispenses with the standard nukitsuke to draw almost vertically before the kirioroshi.Moving MeditationPractice With the Long-Handled Sword, by Katsushika Hokusai, 1817. Source: Ukiyo-e.orgIaijutsu is not only a martial art, it is also a conduit for meditation. While all martial arts require correct movement for effectiveness, iai requires such for the users own safety. Incorrect form can cause the katana to slice through the saya and the swordsmans thumb. Therefore, the art requires absolute focus. Coupled with deep breathing to relax the body and mind, the deliberate movements of iai lend themselves well to developing single-minded concentration, similar to cultivating Zen gardens.Iai students must use their imagination; to learn to practice the techniques with intent, they have to picture an attacker clearly. This creates a sense of urgency and the need to act with pure focus and intent. This level of discipline can transfer into all martial arts practice. To quiet the mind prior to beginning a waza, it is customary to take several deep breaths to relax the muscles. One problem that iai beginners tend to have is too much tension in their upper body, which drains power and range of motion from the muscles.During the Edo Period, samurai had largely become government officials rather than the soldiers they had been. It was expected that they would continue to practice with the sword but it took on a more spiritual focus.Famous SchoolsKatori Shrine. Source: Wikimedia CommonsTenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryuAlthough not completely iaifocused, Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu is one of the oldest and most respected sword styles. It contains 16 iai waza divided into three sets: Omote no Iai (Basics of Sword Drawing), Tachiai Battojutsu (Standing Sword Drawing Forms), and Gokui no Iai (Essentials of Sword Drawing). Only the most advanced students are taught Gokui no Iai. A notable aspect of this school is the dynamic movement. One waza involves the swordsman performing nukitsuke in midair. Also, the traditional seiza is often not used: instead, a kneeling posture called iaigoshi takes its place.Muso Jikiden Eishin-RyuThis is one of the most comprehensive iai styles, with over a hundred waza devoted to a variety of situations in seiza, tatehiza, and standing positions. Eishin-ryu is said to be descended from a style taught by Hayashizaki Jinzaemon. Legend has it that he witnessed his fathers murder and swore vengeance, praying to the kami to enlighten him and aid him in his revenge: these methods of drawing a sword were said to be the result of this prayer and he eventually found his fathers killer.Tsumaki Tamiya-ryuTsumaki Tamiya-ryu is another iai style developed during the late 16th century, as a contemporary of Eishin-ryu. It is notable for includingin addition to its iai curriculumkenshibu and shigin, or the arts of fan/sword kata and traditional poetry reading. This is in keeping with the expectation of samurai as being skilled swordsmen as well as being culturally literate. There is another school called Tamia-ryu known as the Kuroda branch, and it specializes in the use of swords with longer hilts for leverage.Benefits of Iai PracticeMugai-ryu Musogaeshi. Source: Wikimedia CommonsWhen dealing with martial arts, the question that inevitably comes up is Why bother with this art? That seems especially apt at first glance, for an art concerned with such a seemingly outdated weapon as the katana. The chances of getting into a life-or-death duel with swords is, thankfully, nearly non-existent, but it doesnt mean the art is useless.Iai is an art of calm and relaxed focus. By training diligently in iai, one can develop a keen sense of awareness as well. Spatial awareness is important in all martial arts, but even more so when dealing with weapons because the wielder has to know where the weapon is at all times in relation to themselves and any bystanders.In addition, iai is a low-impact form of exercise that can be practiced by people of all ages. It does not employ sparring or high-contact drills. It is suited for calm, meditative practice that poses no danger to the student; only at advanced levels of study are students allowed to use a live blade, referred to as a shinken, in the dojo.Modern Iai: Equipment and TrainingIai uniform. Source: Wikimedia CommonsTo practice iaijutsu, students require the traditional dogi that is common in many martial arts. They also need the obi and the hakama. The obi is a thick sash-like belt wrapped around the waist. The hakama is a pleated pair of trousers that feature as part of Japanese traditional dress. The sword is inserted into the obi between the first and second layers; if a wakizashi is worn, it goes under all the layers of the obi.Only advanced students are allowed to practice with live steel for the purposes of safety. Most beginner iai students start out with a bokuto and a plastic saya. Later, they can upgrade to an iaito, which is an unsharpened katana made of aluminum-zinc alloy that gives the same aerodynamic feel of a live sword without the attendant danger.Some practice drills call for more elaborate equipment, but this varies by school. For example, some iai techniques in Yagyu Shinkage make use of the fukuroshinai, which is a leather-bound bamboo sword that cushions the force of a blow. Padded gloves might also be used in practicing partnered forms that involve cuts to the wrist or forearms.Blade and Mounting for a Sword (Katana), Fittings inscribed by , Takamoto Hidemune, 16th century; mounting, 19th century. Source: The MET, New YorkPost-war Japan intended to maintain its martial arts traditions while not making them overtly militaristic as they had been during the heyday of the samurai. Iai was one of these. This is where the Zen Nippon Iaido Renmei comes in.The Zen Nippon Iaido Renmei, or All Japan Iai Federation, is an organization whose purpose is to unify and preserve iai study, as well as to provide a means for testing fairly across different schools. It was formed in 1948 and in 1956 compiled a list of five waza from the various styles. They come from Eishin-ryu, Mugai-ryu, Shindo Munen-ryu, Suio-ryu, and Hoki-ryu.These techniques are said to be the most representative of their respective styles and each employs a different skill important across all of iaijutsu.

These days, it feels like a gaming mouse will land on your lap if you just kick a tree. Some of these are workable, others are just your average $5 mouse sold for $50 because they tacked some RGB lighting on it.

Professional wrestling is a business full of twists, turns, and shocking changes in status. That's true both of the in-ring product, and the behind-the-scenes drama.

After a fairly substantial delay from June to November, the first Mount and Blade 2 Bannerlord DLC, War Sails, has finally released. But the waters it permits players to wade through appear tepid, leading to a good chunk of fans of one of the best RPGs of the last few years feeling as if they've been left high and dry after a tiring wait for new content.Read the full story on PCGamesN: The long-awaited first Mount and Blade 2 DLC sails through choppy waters as players claim it's overpriced

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